Hat-maker s apron



(No Model.)

J. B. ALLEY.

. HATMAKBRS APRON. No. 363,790. PatentedMay 31, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEO JOHN B. ALLEY, or sourn NoawALK, CONNECTICUT.-

HAT-MAKERS APRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 363,790, dated May 31, 1887.

Application filed October 11, 1886.

To (rZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. ALLEY, a citizen of the United States residing at South Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HatMakers Aprons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of aprons worn by hat-makers and other classes of artisans whose duties require the use of considerable water, or necessitate a continual spattering of water; and the object thereof is to produce an apron which shall be provided with a roll or trough at the bottom to collect the water which drips down the apron and conductit off at the sides, the special purpose being to keep the feet and the lower portion of the clothing dry without the necessity of wearing rubber boots, which it is wellknown are exceedingly unpleasant to wear at all times, and particularly so when the temperature is high and the atmosphere is saturated with steam. It will be readily apparent that leather boots or shoes are far preferable in themselves to rubber boots; but in this class ofwork, owing to the continual dripping and spattering of hot water, they quickly become saturated, and are of course both unpleasant to wear and unhealthy. The use of my improved apron enables me to wholly avoid this unpleasant feature of the hat-makers occupation, and enables hat-makers and other classes of artisans working in water to keep the lower portion of the clothing and the feet dry without wearing rubber boots.

lVith these ends in view I have devised the novel construction, which I will now describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in

which-- Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of my improved apron, showing slight variations in the mode in which I have carried my invention into effect; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating other variations in thedetails of construction.

,The apron maybe made of anysuitable ma- Serial No. 215,815. (No model.)

terial-as, for example, leather, or cloth covered with a suitable water-proof material, heavy rubber cloth being the material ordinarily used. The shape of the apron is of course not ofthe essence of my invention; but it may be made of any size or shape suitable to the uses for which it is intended. In the drawings I have illustrated aprons of the shape ordinaril y used by hat-makers.

l is the body of the apron; 2, asupplemental thickness or shield at the portion of the apron which comes in contact with the tubs; 3, holes at the top of the apron for a cord or strap which passes about the neck, and 4 holes at the sides of the apron for cords or straps which pass around the body and are tied either at the front or back, these features being all in common use.

At the bottom of the apron I provide a roll or trough, .3. This roll may of conrsebe made separately and attached thereto, as in Fig. 0,

although I preferably make it integral with the-body of the apron, as shown in the drawings. this class of aprons is rubber, and the roll or trough may he made in either of two ways.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the lower end ofthe apron as rolled over and the roll held in position by straps 6, attached at the top of the roll and to the body of the apron.

In Fig. 2 the roll is shown without straps. In this form the material is made thicker at the lower end of the apron, and the roll or trough is formed while the material is in a plastic condition, and it is then vulcanized in that form, so that the roll is permanently formed, but still remains flexible in use.

In order that the'water may pass out freely at the sides of the apron, I make the bottom of the'roll highest at the center, as clearly shown at 7. From this point the bottom of the roll slopes slightly in both directions to the edges which are the lowest.

In Fig. 3 I'have illustrated a form in which a roll or trough, of metal, rubber, leather, or any suitable material, is made separate from the body of the apron and attached thereto; and in Fig. 4 I have shown a form in which an integral roll is strengthened by a stay-piece, 8, which holds it in. proper form and prevents it from being crushed against the body of the The material ordinarily usedin making apron. Ordinarily, however, the stay-piece in opposite directions toward the ends, both will not be necessary, and the roll will be made of which are open, whereby water will be ourintegrol with the body of the apron. ried off at both sides and the feet and clothing It will of course be understood that the deof the wearer be kept dry. I 5 5 tails of construction maybe varied to an almost In testimony whereof I affix my signature in unlimited extent without departing from the presence of two witnesses.

spirit of my invention. JOHN B ALLEY I c1ain1 As an improved manufacture, an apron hav- \Vitnesses: 1o ing at its bottom a trough which is highest at A. 1\I. XVOosTER, I

the center and slopes thence slightly downward O. E. RUGGLEs. 

